Multiscale conformational heterogeneity in staphylococcal protein a: possible determinant of functional plasticity.
Published
Journal Article
The Staphylococcus aureus virulence factor staphylococcal protein A (SpA) is a major contributor to bacterial evasion of the host immune system, through high-affinity binding to host proteins such as antibodies. SpA includes five small three-helix-bundle domains (E-D-A-B-C) separated by conserved flexible linkers. Prior attempts to crystallize individual domains in the absence of a binding partner have apparently been unsuccessful. There have also been no previous structures of tandem domains. Here we report the high-resolution crystal structures of a single C domain, and of two B domains connected by the conserved linker. Both structures exhibit extensive multiscale conformational heterogeneity, which required novel modeling protocols. Comparison of domain structures shows that helix1 orientation is especially heterogeneous, coordinated with changes in side chain conformational networks and contacting protein interfaces. This represents the kind of structural plasticity that could enable SpA to bind multiple partners.
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Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Deis, LN; Pemble, CW; Qi, Y; Hagarman, A; Richardson, DC; Richardson, JS; Oas, TG
Published Date
- October 7, 2014
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 22 / 10
Start / End Page
- 1467 - 1477
PubMed ID
- 25295398
Pubmed Central ID
- 25295398
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1878-4186
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.str.2014.08.014
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States